Pro-Government Militias
Civil Defense Forces/ Kamajors/ Kapras/ Donso/ Gbethis (Sierra Leone)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 91 |
| Country: | Sierra Leone |
| Date formed: | Dec. 1, 1997 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | month |
| Details of Formation: | The term “Civil Defense Forces” (CDF) was first used between 1997 and 1998 and refers to several militia groups made up of traditional hunters like the Kamajors, Kapras or Gbethis. The goal of this umbrella term was to create a sense of unity between the independent militias. The CDF fought in the Sierra Leone War. They became increasingly consolidated as civilians started to distrust the military and sought to defend themselves. They were widely seen as the security force of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (Wikipedia). |
| Date dissolved: | Jan. 17, 2002 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | Although some parts of the CDF still exist, the official disarming process was concluded on January 17th 2002. Subsequently, the UN International Court accused CDF leaders for having committed atrocities. |
| Termination Type(s): | disarmed |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | yes |
| Former Armed Group? | yes |
| Former Rebel Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | semi-official (type 2) |
| Created by the Government?: | yes | Main Creating Government Institution: | person/minister |
| Government Link(s): | person/minister; political party; state (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | Sierra Leone People's Party |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government; plunder and loot |
| State Sponsor(s): | United Kingdom; Nigeria |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ethnic; village/rural; children |
| Primary Membership: | local |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | southern Regions, Freetown, Kenema, Bo, Masiaka, Port Loko, Magburaka |
| Force Strength: | [20000, 25000] |
| Target(s): | civilians; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group; regular military force |
| Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious institutions; self-defense and security |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Membership: | Mende (Sierra Leone); Temne (Sierra Leone); Kono (Sierra Leone); Northern Groups (Temne, Limba) (Sierra Leone) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | given |
| Ethnic Purpose: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | not applicable |
Other Information
| Other Information: | The CDF had around 11,000 child soldiers among its ranks. The largest group within the CDF were the Kamajors (for more information see Kamajor group). |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The group’s purpose was to fight RUF rebels as the military is seen as unfit to fulfil this task and provide security within their localities. They oftentimes captured RUF rebels. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | There have been several accounts of CDF members abusing children. They were indoctrinated and forcefully subordinated as child soldiers (Wikipedia). They were reportedly responsible for many cases of torture and extra-judicial executions of captured rebel combatants and civilians suspected of collaboration with rebel forces (Amnesty International 2006). |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing; torture; sexual violence |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | yes |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | no information |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: | As many as 20,000 fighters are estimated to fight in the various militia groups. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | The government provided guns to the CDF. They defended their communities mostly by using hunting rifles but when they were disarmed, CDF members also handed in some assault rifles, including AK-47s (Amnesty International 2006). |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The leader of the CDF was Samuel Hinga Norman with Moinina Fofana as second in command. Allieu Kondewa was the military commander of the group. They were all put on trial in 2004 during the Special Court for Sierra Leone that was set up in cooperation with the UN (Wikipedia). |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.